Air-Conditioning Device, In Particular For A Vehicle

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning device with a first heat exchanger on a low-pressure side and a second heat exchanger on a high-pressure side of the air conditioning device. A cooling medium in a cooling circuit of the air conditioning device is under a higher pressure on the high-pressure side than on the low-pressure side. The first heat exchanger is arranged in a first housing portion on the low-pressure side, and the second heat exchanger is arranged in a second housing portion of the air conditioning device on the high-pressure side. A smoke removal opening is arranged between the first and the second housing portions. The smoke removal opening is closed during the normal operation of the air conditioning device and can be opened in the event of a fire and allow a flow of air from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.

The invention relates to an air-conditioning device having a heatexchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and aheat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device,wherein a cooling medium which is located in a cooling circuit of theair-conditioning device at the high-pressure side is under a higherpressure than at the low-pressure side.

In rail vehicles for passenger transport both in long-distance and inregional transport, high demands with regard to fire protection have tobe complied with. To this end, it is particularly necessary in the eventof a fire for the highly toxic fire smoke which is produced in thevehicle to be discharged outward as quickly as possible in order toincrease the chances of survival for the persons located in the vehicle.For rapid removal of smoke, high air flow volumes are required.

Currently in rail vehicles, in the event of fire, the supply air fans ofthe air-conditioning systems at the low-pressure side are switched offand the exhaust fans (if present) at the low-pressure side arecontrolled to maximum speed. In rail vehicles without exhaust fans,folding windows and opening of doors are relied on. The opening of doorsmay also be a supplementary measure in rail vehicles with exhaust fans.

An object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioning devicewhich is improved in the event of fire compared with conventionalair-conditioning devices.

This object is achieved according to the invention by anair-conditioning device having the features according to patent claim 1.Advantageous embodiments of the air-conditioning device according to theinvention are set out in dependent claims.

Accordingly, there is provision according to the invention for the heatexchanger at the low-pressure side to be arranged in a first housingportion of the air-conditioning device and for the heat exchanger at thehigh-pressure side to be arranged in a second housing portion of theair-conditioning device and for there to be arranged between the firstand second housing portions a smoke removal opening which is closedduring normal operation of the air-conditioning device and which can beopened in the event of a fire and which can enable an air flow from thefirst housing portion into the second housing portion.

A significant advantage of the air-conditioning device according to theinvention is evident in that—in the event of a fire—a discharge ofexhaust gases or smoke from the inner space which is air conditioned bythe air-conditioning device prior to the fire, for example, thepassenger compartment of a rail vehicle, can be carried out using thefan which is generally provided at the high-pressure side or in thesecond housing portion of the air-conditioning device; previously, thiswas not possible as a result of the structural separation of thehigh-pressure side and low-pressure side in air-conditioning devices. Atthis location, the invention begins by providing a flow connection whichcan be activated in the event of a fire between the second housingportion and the first housing portion and consequently a switchable flowconnection between the air-conditioned inner space and the secondhousing portion.

Generally, the fan which is located at the high-pressure side ofair-conditioning devices in order to cool the heat exchanger which is atthat location is very powerful in order to ensure adequate cooling powerof the air-conditioning device as a whole; consequently, the fan powerof the same fan located at the high-pressure side of theair-conditioning device can advantageously be used in the event of afire.

With regard to the normal operation of the air-conditioning device, itis considered to be advantageous for the first housing portion to have afresh air opening for introducing fresh air into the first housingportion and an inner space opening which serves to introduce the freshair which has been cooled by the heat exchanger located in the firsthousing portion into an inner space which is intended to beair-conditioned by the air-conditioning device.

The second housing portion preferably has a supply air opening forintroducing supply air into the second housing portion and an exhaustair opening for blowing out the supply air which has been heated by theheat exchanger located in the second housing portion from the secondhousing portion in an outward direction.

The second housing portion is preferably provided with a fan or ispreferably connected to a fan which during normal operation of theair-conditioning device draws supply air through the supply air openinginto the second housing portion and which blows out the supply air whichhas been heated by the heat exchanger located in the second housingportion in an outward direction. In the event of a fire—with the smokeremoval opening open—the fan additionally draws inner space air throughthe inner space opening into the first housing portion and therefromthrough the smoke removal opening into the second housing portion andblows it from that location outward through the exhaust air opening.

Preferably, the air-conditioning device has a control device which isconfigured in such a manner that, when a warning signal which signals afire is present, it produces a control signal by means of which it opensthe smoke removal opening.

It is particularly advantageous for the smoke removal opening to beprovided with an actuatable closure element, which in the initial statecloses the smoke removal opening and which releases it when an actuationsignal is present, and for the control device to be constructed in sucha manner that, when the warning signal is present as a control signal,it produces the actuation signal in order to actuate the closureelement.

With regard to the most rapid possible release of the airflow connectionbetween the housing portions, it is advantageous for the closure elementto be a pyrotechnically operating closure element whose pyrotechnicaldrive is ignited when the actuation signal is present.

In order to achieve the greatest possible exhaust capacity of smoke orfire gas from the inner space (which is air-conditioned prior to thefire), for example, the passenger inner space, it is considered to beadvantageous for the control device to be configured in such a mannerthat it further closes the supply air opening or the fresh air openingwhen the warning signal is present.

It is particularly advantageous with regard to a maximum exhaust effectfor the control device to be configured in such a manner that it opensthe smoke removal opening and closes both the fresh air opening and thesupply air opening when the warning signal is present.

The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a railvehicle, which is provided with an air-conditioning device, as explainedabove. With regard to the advantages of the vehicle according to theinvention, reference may be made to the above statements in connectionwith the air-conditioning device according to the invention. Theair-conditioning device air-conditions the vehicle inner space duringnormal operation and in the event of a fire removes smoke from thevehicle inner space at least also via the smoke removal opening.

The invention further relates to a method for operating anair-conditioning device which has a heat exchanger at a low-pressureside of the air-conditioning device and a heat exchanger at ahigh-pressure side of the air-conditioning device, wherein a coolingmedium which is located in a cooling circuit of the air-conditioningdevice is placed under a higher pressure at the high-pressure side thanat the low-pressure side.

With regard to such a method, there is provision according to theinvention for the heat exchanger at the low-pressure side to be arrangedin a first housing portion of the air-conditioning device and the heatexchanger at the high-pressure side to be arranged in a second housingportion of the air-conditioning device and for there to be arrangedbetween the first and second housing portions a smoke removal openingwhich is closed during normal operation of the air-conditioning deviceand which is opened in the event of a fire, whereby an air flow isenabled from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.

With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention,reference may be made to the above statements in relation to theair-conditioning device according to the invention since the advantagesof the method according to the invention substantially correspond tothose of the air-conditioning device according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with referenceto embodiments; in the drawings by way of example:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be usedin a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, wherein FIG. 1 shows theoperating method during normal operation,

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the event of a fire,

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be usedin a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a controldevice which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal openingbetween the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of theair-conditioning device and which further closes a fresh air opening atthe low-pressure side,

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can beused in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a controldevice which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal openingbetween the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of theair-conditioning device and which further closes a supply air opening atthe high-pressure side,

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can beused in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a controldevice which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal openingbetween the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of theair-conditioning device and which closes a fresh air opening at thelow-pressure side and a supply air opening at the high-pressure side,and

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the inventionwhich is provided with an air-conditioning device according to theinvention.

In the Figures, for the sake of clarity, the same reference numerals arealways used for identical or comparable components.

FIG. 1 shows an air-conditioning device 10 which is provided with acooling circuit 20 which guides a cooling medium M. The cooling circuit20 comprises in addition to only schematically illustrated lines forguiding the cooling medium M an expansion valve 30, a first heatexchanger 40, a compressor 50 and a second heat exchanger 60.

The expansion valve 30 and the compressor 50 sub-divide theair-conditioning device 10 in terms of pressure into a low-pressure side11 and a high-pressure side 12. The first heat exchanger 40 is arrangedat the low-pressure side 11 of the air-conditioning device 10 and thesecond heat exchanger 60 at the high-pressure side 12.

The air-conditioning device 10 has in the embodiment according to FIG. 1a housing 80 which comprises a first housing portion 81 and a secondhousing portion 82. The first housing portion 81 is separated from thesecond housing portion 82 by a partition wall 83. The low-pressure side11 of the air-conditioning device 10 is located in the first housingportion 81 of the housing 80 and the high-pressure side 12 in the secondhousing portion 82.

The first housing portion 81 has a fresh air opening 100 for introducingfresh air FL into the first housing portion 81. Furthermore, the firsthousing portion 81 comprises an inner space opening 110 for introducingthe fresh air KL which has been cooled by the heat exchanger 40 into aninner space IR which is intended to be air-conditioned by theair-conditioning device 10. The inner space IR which is intended to beair-conditioned may, for example, be an inner space of a vehicle, inparticular a rail vehicle.

The second housing portion 82 comprises a supply air opening 200 forintroducing supply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 and anexhaust air opening 210 for blowing out the supply air, which has beenheated by the heat exchanger 60 and which will be referred to below asexhaust air AL, outward from the second housing portion 82.

The supply air ZL and the fresh air FL may, for example, be external airor ambient air which is introduced from the outer side or from theenvironment of the air-conditioning device 10.

The second housing portion 82 is provided with a fan 300 which duringnormal operation of the air-conditioning device 80 draws the supply airZL through the supply air opening 200 into the second housing portion82, directs it past the heat exchanger 60 and blows out the air which isheated by the heat exchanger 60 as exhaust air AL.

Between the first and the second housing portion 81 and 82 there isarranged a smoke removal opening 400 which is closed during normaloperation of the air-conditioning device 80 and which—as will beexplained in greater detail below—can be opened in the event of a fire,whereby an air flow from the first housing portion into the secondhousing portion is enabled.

The smoke removal opening 400 is provided with an actuatable closureelement 410 which in the initial state closes the smoke removal opening400 and releases it only when an actuation signal BS is present (cf.FIG. 2). In order to control the smoke removal opening 400 or theclosure element 410, the closure element 410 is connected to a controldevice 500.

The closure element 410 may be a mechanically adjustable, in particularpivotable flap. With regard to the most rapid and reliable possibleopening of the smoke removal opening 400, it is considered to beadvantageous for the closure element 410 to have a pyrotechnical drivewhich is ignited when the actuation signal BS is present and whichpyrotechnically brings about the opening of the smoke removal opening400.

The control device 500 is constructed in such a manner that, when awarning signal WS which signals a fire is present, it produces theactuation signal BS (cf. FIG. 2), by means of which the closure element410 is actuated and the smoke removal opening 400 is opened. The warningsignal WS may be supplied by a fire alarm which is not shown in FIG. 1for reasons of clarity and which is connected to the control device 500.

The air-conditioning device 10 is preferably operated as follows:

During normal operation (cf. FIG. 1), fresh air FL is introduced, bydrawing in using a fan which is not shown for reasons of clarity or byblowing in, for example, in the form of travel wind in the event thatthe air-conditioning system 10 is used in or on a vehicle, into thefirst housing portion 81 of the air-conditioning device 10, cooled withthe heat exchanger 40 at that location and subsequently directed ascooled fresh air KL into the inner space IR, for example, a vehicleinner space.

In order to discharge the heat of the cooling medium M, using the fan300 supply air ZL, preferably ambient air, is drawn in and directed pastthe heat exchanger 60, whereby the air which is directed past becomesheated and the heat exchanger 60 is cooled. The heated air is blown outas exhaust air AL through the exhaust air opening 210.

In the event of a fire (cf. FIG. 2), from the fire alarm mentioned thewarning signal WS is transmitted to the control device 500 whichsubsequently produces the actuation signal BS. As a result of theactuation signal BS, the closure element 410 is activated and the smokeremoval opening 400 is opened. By opening the smoke removal opening 400,the generally very powerful fan 300 will draw air from the first housingportion 81, whereby a reduced pressure is produced at that location. Asa result of the reduced pressure in the first housing portion 81, air,in particular smoke or fire gas BG, is again drawn from the inner spaceIR through the inner space opening 110 and blown out through the exhaustair opening 210. The fan 300 consequently functions as a smoke removaldevice for the inner space IR.

FIG. 3 shows an air-conditioning device 10, in which the fresh airopening 100 at the low-pressure side 11 is connected to the controldevice 500 and can be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce theactuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of theair-conditioning device and close the fresh air opening 100.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in theembodiment according to FIG. 3 an influx of fresh air FL—in the event ofa fire—into the first housing portion 81 is prevented, whereby thedegree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82with respect to the exhaust of smoke or fire gas BG from the inner spaceIR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with reference to the operating method of theair-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 3, reference may be made tothe above statements in connection with the embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioningdevice 10 according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an air-conditioning device 10 in which the supply airopening 200 at the high-pressure side 12 is connected to the controldevice 500 and can be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce theactuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of theair-conditioning device and close the supply air opening 200.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in theembodiment according to FIG. 4, in the event of a fire, an influx ofsupply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 is prevented, wherebythe degree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82with respect to the discharge of smoke or fire gas BG from the innerspace IR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with respect to the operating method of theair-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 4, reference may be made tothe above statements in connection with the embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioningdevice 10 according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows an air-conditioning device 10 in which both the supply airopening 200 at the high-pressure side 12 and the fresh air opening 100at the low-pressure side 11 are connected to the control device 500 andcan be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce theactuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of theair-conditioning device. At the same time, beforehand or afterwards, itwill close the fresh air opening 100 and the supply air opening 200.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in theembodiment according to FIG. 5, in the event of a fire, an influx ofsupply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 and an influx of freshair FL into the first housing portion 81 are prevented, whereby thedegree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82with respect to the discharge of smoke or fire gas BG from the innerspace IR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with respect to the operating method of theair-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 5, reference may be made tothe above statements in connection with the embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioningdevice 10 according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle 700 which is provided withan air-conditioning device 10. The air-conditioning device 10 servesduring normal operation to cool fresh air FL and at the output side tosupply cooled air KL into the inner space IR of the rail vehicle 700.

The air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 6 preferablycorresponds to one of the air-conditioning devices explained in detailabove in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5. With regard to theair-conditioning device 10, in particular the operating method of theair-conditioning device 10 in the event of a fire, reference canconsequently be made to the above statements in connection with FIGS. 1to 5.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greaterdetail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by theexamples disclosed and other variations can be derived therefrom by theperson skilled in the art without departing from the protective scope ofthe invention.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An air-conditioning device, comprising: a firstheat exchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device anda second heat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioningdevice; a cooling circuit containing a cooling medium, said coolingmedium in said cooling circuit being at a higher pressure at thehigh-pressure side of the air-conditional device than at thelow-pressure side; a first housing portion housing said first heatexchanger at the low-pressure side and a second housing portion housingsaid second heat exchanger at the high-pressure side; wherein a smokeremoval opening is formed between said first and second housingportions, said smoke removal opening being closed during normaloperation of the air conditioning device and opened in the event of afire, for enabling an air flow from said first housing portion into saidsecond housing portion.
 14. The air-conditioning device according toclaim 13, wherein said first housing portion is formed with a fresh airopening for introducing fresh air into said first housing portion and aninner space opening for introducing the fresh air, after having beencooled by said first heat exchanger in said first housing portion, intoan interior space that is intended to be air-conditioned by theair-conditioning device.
 15. The air-conditioning device according toclaim 13, wherein said second housing portion is formed with a supplyair opening for introducing supply air into said second housing portionand with an exhaust air opening for blowing out the supply air, afterhaving been heated by said second heat exchanger in said second housingportion from the second housing portion in an outward direction.
 16. Theair-conditioning device according to claim 15, wherein said secondhousing portion is associated with a fan which, during the normaloperation of the air-conditioning device, draws supply air through saidsupply air opening into said second housing portion and blows out thesupply air which has been heated by said heat exchanger in said secondhousing portion in an outward direction and which, in the event of afire, while the smoke removal opening is open, additionally draws innerspace air through said inner space opening into said first housingportion, from said first housing portion through said smoke removalopening into said second housing portion and blows the air from thereoutward through said exhaust air opening.
 17. The air-conditioningdevice according to claim 16, wherein said fan is disposed in saidsecond housing portion or said fan is fluidically connected with saidsecond housing portion.
 18. The air-conditioning device according toclaim 13, which comprises a control device configured to issue a controlsignal which, when a warning signal is present that indicates a fire,causes the smoke removal opening to open.
 19. The air-conditioningdevice according to claim 18, wherein: said smoke removal opening isprovided with an actuatable closure element which in an initial statecloses the smoke removal opening and opens said smoke removal openingwhen an actuation signal is present; and said control device isconfigured, when the warning signal is present as a control signal, toproduce the actuation signal in order to actuate said closure element.20. The air-conditioning device according to claim 19, wherein saidclosure element is a pyrotechnically operating closure element having apyrotechnical drive that is ignited when the actuation signal ispresent.
 21. The air-conditioning device according to claim 18, whereinsaid control device is configured to close said supply air opening whenthe warning signal is present.
 22. The air-conditioning device accordingto claim 18, wherein said control device is configured to close saidfresh air opening when the warning signal is present.
 23. Theair-conditioning device according to claim 18, wherein said controldevice is configured to open said smoke removal opening and to closesaid fresh air opening and said supply air opening when the warningsignal is present.
 24. A vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning deviceaccording to claim 13 configured to air-condition a vehicle interiorspace during normal operation and to remove smoke from the vehicleinterior space via the smoke removal opening in the case of a fire. 25.The vehicle according to claim 24 being a rail vehicle.
 26. A method foroperating an air-conditioning device which has a heat exchanger at alow-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and a heat exchanger ata high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device, the methodcomprising: setting a cooling medium in a cooling circuit of theair-conditioning device to a higher pressure at the high-pressure sidethan at the low-pressure side; wherein the heat exchanger at thelow-pressure side is arranged in a first housing portion of theair-conditioning device and the heat exchanger at the high-pressure sideis arranged in a second housing portion of the air-conditioning deviceand there is formed a smoke removal opening between the first and secondhousing portions; keeping the smoke removal opening closed during normaloperation of the air-conditioning device; and opening the smoke removalopening in the event of a fire to enable an air flow from the firsthousing portion into the second housing portion.